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Should Pakistan reciprocate India's ban on artistes? Here's what our actors think

Should Pakistan reciprocate India's ban on artistes? Here's what our actors think

Continued tensions between the two countries causes Pakistani artistes to speak up
30 Sep, 2016

The Uri attack, coupled with the recent killing of two Pakistani soldiers at LoC, have caused a furore among people from India and Pakistan. Now that the Indian Association has banned Pakistani talent from working in India and some Pakistani cinemas have pulled down Bollywood films from the screens, tempers on both sides are running high.

While many in India are vehemently opposing Pakistani artistes working in their country, the Bollywood fraternity has witnessed a mix of views on the matter thus far. On this side of the border, however, after maintaining silence over the issue, a few spoke to Images voicing their concern.

As is always the case, Hamza Ali Abbasi was the first to comment on the affair. In a Facebook post, the Mann Mayal actor asked his fellow Pakistanis to boycott all Indian content.

When asked about the recent ban, the actor said, "Our actors should stop going to Bollywood. If anyone comes from there we should welcome them as we are more mature and civilised people than them. If a dog bites you, you don't bite the dog back."

Mein Hari Piya actor Agha Ali, too, is of the same opinion and said he wished this had been done a lot sooner.

"I think it should've been done a long time ago. We have to be on the same page in every aspect now before we allow it all again. I'm super happy."

However, like most Bollywood celebs, Sajal Aly believes that art should not be muddled with politics.

She said, "Art is a form free from race, creed, ethnicity and all biases and prejudices. It's not tied by any division. We must understand this when we talk about work collaboration of artists."

The Humsafar actor Atiqa Odho was disconcerted by the idea. "It's unfortunate if India takes such a position as we have always allowed their content and talent in Pakistan."

Azfar Rehman of Sitamgar, held the same view as Sajal, "Artists are soft targets, artists are ambassadors of peace around the world, hats off to artists of both the countries who have crossed the border to give and receive love.

"Let's not curb the love, let's not curb the art, let's not stop the exchange of love. Please let our governments decide what should be the political scenario but let's not make artists suffer. Don't make them a target."

When approached, many local artistes refused to comment on the matter.

Tensions in India have escalated to a high degree, so much so that Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam's concerts were called off in India by their respective organisers.

Comments

Angry Pitbull Sep 30, 2016 11:55am
Hamza ali is very good in cracking jokes
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Deependra Sep 30, 2016 11:56am
Let the actors who worked in India speak... let's hear what they feel about India..
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tallus supremus Sep 30, 2016 11:58am
they're not sharing love on the border right now. they're sharing bullets. and killing your countrymen - who have laid down their lives for YOU.
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zunaira Sep 30, 2016 11:59am
Pakistani's should STOP watching Indian Movies & Meaningless & stupid Dramas too.
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monu Sep 30, 2016 11:59am
Which indian artists work in Pakistan?
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KT Sep 30, 2016 12:05pm
Most of indian movies are sponsored by external non-indian production companies. If there is ban still people of Pakistan will watch pirated movies which may contain offensive content !
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vpr_3 Sep 30, 2016 12:05pm
@zunaira what else would you watch then.
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Jawad Sep 30, 2016 12:17pm
My respect for hamza Ali increased he is a proud pakistani unlike other who goto India to work for the sake of talent exchange.
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peru Sep 30, 2016 12:24pm
I don't understand why we wanted to watch Indian stuff at first.I think now news channel other tv channel should also stop playing indian song s in background.It's not really our culture
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kashmiri Sep 30, 2016 12:29pm
kashmiris should be allowed to work in Pakistan.
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Talha Sep 30, 2016 12:46pm
Hamza Ali Abbasi is absolutely right. Only those actors who see in money in India through projects are talking about keeping art and politics seperate. Can't they see India is humiliating them?
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Thoroughthinker Sep 30, 2016 01:12pm
It is unfortunate that some artists value their bulging purse more than the patriotism.
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Zafar Ahmed Sep 30, 2016 01:23pm
Indian and Pakistani artists should not be involved in this political game.
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Proud Pakistani Sep 30, 2016 01:48pm
@monu new question? Check yourself
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akshay Sep 30, 2016 02:05pm
likely b happy in ur own place!!!
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Random Sep 30, 2016 02:10pm
India actors and artist do not perform in Pakistan.
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PAATCHU Sep 30, 2016 02:16pm
Uninformed poor artists!. May God help them!!
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Sam Frank Sep 30, 2016 02:18pm
Fawad, Mahira & the others who work in India. We like you and are disappointed that some radicals in our country have resented you and also because some of your own countrymen have derided you. Art is art. It is sublime. Am sure you all have a big heart. Keep it up - your work of entertaining in the arts.
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miristan Sep 30, 2016 03:03pm
I like you pl keep it up thanks
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Pramod Sep 30, 2016 06:54pm
@Proud Pakistani Why you don't have answer . Because I hardly know anybody except one or two small roles by Om puri or Naseeruddin Shah.
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Sharif Ahmad Sep 30, 2016 07:34pm
SAJAL ALY, so young and so mature thinking.
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Payal Queshi Sep 30, 2016 07:42pm
@Pramod absolutely!
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Hadiqa Tariq Sep 30, 2016 10:49pm
Indian dramas, movies, actors should be banned in Pakistan.
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Essen Oct 01, 2016 01:54am
Pak artistes like Mehdi Hassan and Fateh Ali Khan my all time favourites. Nothing will change that. The rest is just infantile jingoism. Two poor nations locked in an internecine war. Mutual slide into poverty assured.
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Hemant Oct 01, 2016 02:27am
" If anyone comes from there we should welcome them as we are more mature and civilised people than them. " Million $ question is, who would pass that big IF? If Pakistan had bit of maturity they should have understood that India had attacked terrorist from their launch pad. Unfortunately for most Pakistanis these terrorist are their heroes, who are going to bring back their lost pride of loosing east Pakistan in 1971.... With that background comment from Pakistani actors is quite natural
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Waseem Oct 01, 2016 03:40am
Ban Indian movies in pakistani theature. Thats it.
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Sudesh Oct 01, 2016 08:31am
Frankly exchange means Pakistanis coming and acting in Indian movies bcos Indian actors don't need pak movies, your movie standard is quite Inferior and money too less for Indian artists, they might do some odd movie for friendship but no one has long term plan to act in pak for long time.. Sorry but this is bitter fact
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sachin Oct 01, 2016 08:44am
Pakistani actors would have been loved even in this situation, and not asked to leave, only if they had issued just 1 statement, condemning all acts of terrorism.
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Himanshu Saraswat Oct 01, 2016 09:02am
If these artists do not work in India they won't get work anywhere else. You do not have any film industry.. let's face it.. beggars cannot be choosers..
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Samir Oct 01, 2016 09:29am
Can't believe Indian artists go to Pakistan. If they do please do ban them.
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Syed Ahmed Oct 01, 2016 10:44am
Why we do same thing they doing for our members of arts academy
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MJ Khan Oct 01, 2016 08:37pm
No point in banning. People will watch it through pirated means anyways.
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Jigar USA Oct 02, 2016 03:54am
@kashmiri why not ask all kashmiris to move to pakistan, That will be end of all issues. Everyone can live in peace.
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parveez shafi Oct 02, 2016 04:00pm
@Random There has been few indian artists who have worked in Pakistani films
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Aamer Oct 03, 2016 12:48pm
@vpr_3 Pakistani movies and TV dramas are much better. we dont need Indias week entertainment.
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kundan Oct 04, 2016 02:49pm
Actors are refraining from giving any comments - This is a question of there bread and butter and fame.
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Santhosh Oct 04, 2016 10:03pm
@monu Indian no need Pakistan for their performance
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TheSatyaSays Oct 05, 2016 07:45pm
No Indian would like to work in pak
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